The Kinleys
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Heather Kinley, Jennifer Kinley |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
| Products | Country music albums and singles |
The Kinleys consisted of American country music twin sisters Heather and Jennifer Kinley, born on November 5, 1970. Between 1997 and 2000, they produced two albums under Epic Records: Just Between You and Me (1997) and II (2000). Their career includes eight singles that appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with their debut single "Please" reaching No. 7. The track "Somebody's Out There Watching" was featured on the soundtrack for Touched by an Angel. After parting ways with Epic in 2000 due to dissatisfaction with touring demands, they independently released a final album in 2004 before disbanding.
Biography
Identical twins Heather and Jennifer Kinley were born on November 5, 1970, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their musical journey began on Al Alberts' Showcase, a local Philadelphia talent program, before relocating to Nashville at age 19. After five years of honing their craft, they secured a contract with Epic Records. Their debut album, Just Between You and Me, released in late 1997, generated the No. 7 country hit "Please" and a No. 12 follow-up with its title track. This album earned gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Its success led to tours alongside Clint Black and a showcase performance in Las Vegas. In 1998, they were honored with the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Group or Duo.
In 1998, their single "Somebody's Out There Watching", featured on the Touched by an Angel soundtrack, reached the Top 20. July 1999 saw the release of "My Heart Is Still Beating" as the lead single from their anticipated second album; however, it did not break into the Top 40. Epic Records postponed the album’s release to enlist producer Radney Foster to expand their musical style. This single was eventually omitted from the final tracklist.
Their sophomore album, II, included tracks produced by Foster along with contributions from Tony Haselden and Russ Zavitson. The lead single "She Ain't the Girl for You" was succeeded by "I'm In", which peaked at number 35; notably, this song was later covered by Keith Urban, who achieved a No. 2 position with it.
Following the release of II, The Kinleys parted ways with Epic Records due to their reluctance to engage in extensive touring and their wish to focus on family life. They independently issued their third and final album, All in the Family, in 2004 before disbanding.
Personal lives
Both sisters entered marriage in 2000 within seven months of each other: Heather married Mark Mendenhall, while Jennifer wed Adam Hughes. Each has two sons; Heather additionally has a stepdaughter and stepson. As of 2013, Jennifer worked as a registered nurse in Nashville and performed vocally in a church led by former MCA Records artist Lionel Cartwright.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | US Heat |
CAN Country | |||
| Just Between You and Me |
|
22 | 153 | 6 | 32 |
|
| II |
|
18 | 177 | 10 | — | |
| All in the Family |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Track | Highest chart rankings | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | |||
| 1997 | "Please" | 7 | 67 | 22 | Just Between You and Me |
| "Just Between You and Me" | 12 | —[lower-alpha 1] | 9 | ||
| 1998 | "Dance in the Boat" | 49 | — | 84 | |
| "You Make It Seem So Easy" | 48 | — | 44 | ||
| "Somebody's Out There Watching" | 19 | 64 | 23 | Touched by an Angel: The Album | |
| 1999 | "My Heart Is Still Beating" | 63 | — | — | — |
| 2000 | "She Ain't the Girl for You" | 34 | — | 48 | align="left" rowspan=3 II |
| "I'm In" | 35 | — | x | ||
| 2001 | "You're Still Here" | — | — | x | |
| 2004 | "Little Shoulders" | — | — | — | align=left rowspan=2 All in the Family |
| 2005 | "I Will" | — | — | — | |
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart; "x" signifies charts that were not applicable. | |||||
- Notes
Music videos
| Year | Video title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Please" | Chris Rogers |
| "Just Between You and Me" | Thom Oliphant | |
| 1998 | "Somebody's Out There Watching" | Jim Shea |
| 1999 | "My Heart Is Still Beating" | Jim Shea |
| 2000 | "She Ain't the Girl for You" | Adolfo Doring |
| "I'm In" | Eric Welch | |
| 2005 | "I Will" | Flick Wiltshire |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Please" | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Nominee |
American Music Awards
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Kinleys | Favorite Country New Artist | Nominee |
TNN/Music City News Country Awards
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Kinleys | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | Nominee |
| 1999 | The Kinleys | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year | Nominee |
| 1999 | The Kinleys | Female Star of Tomorrow | Nominee |
Academy of Country Music Awards
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Kinleys | Top New Vocal Group or Duo | Winner |
| 2001 | The Kinleys | Top Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominee |
| 2002 | The Kinleys | Top Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominee |
Country Music Association Awards
| Years | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1998–2001) (four consecutive years) | The Kinleys (all years) | Vocal Duo of the Year (all years) | Nominee (all years) |
References
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